On January 1, 2013 the tax on insuance in the Netherlands more than doubled from 9.7% to 21%. This increase comes as a result of the announcement in October , 2012, by the two parties negoitiating to form a new government coalition.

The recent protests in Brazil were the latest vivid reminder of the perils of investing in emerging markets. Tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged the streets of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities, incited partly by a rising cost of living and a slowing economy.

Brazil is brimming with potential. Two decades of governmental reform and political stability have transformed the Brazilian economy. Unemployment is at a historic low, and Brazil's taditionally high level of income inequality has declined.

Making rural communities more resilient to the impact of climate change requires a comprehensive portfolio of adaptation measures. But decision-makers need the facts to identify the most cost-effective investments.

Enrique Diaz remembers the moment he understood how badly Peru needed a financial literacy movement: In line at a KFC restaurant, a customer handed over her credit card and the cashier asked if she would like to pay in four installments.

The protests in Brazil last month were the latest vivid reminder of the perils of investing in emerging markets. Tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged the streets of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities, incited partly by a rising cost of living and a slowing economy.

An analysis of the potentially increasing threat from natural catastrophes worldwide. The average annual cost of insured claims from natural catastrophes has increased with-fold since 1970. The main reason is economic growth: property values are rising; population density and insurance penetration

Nothing does more to focus attention on business continuity planning than a disaster. The March 11 earthquake in Japan is just the most recent in a series of catastrophic events to highlight the importance of the risk area known as continuation of operations. When combined with the financial pressu

According to Swiss Re’s latest sigma study, worldwide economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters were USD 218 billion in 2010, more than triple the 2009 figure of USD 68 billion. The cost to the global insurance industry was more than USD 43 billion, an increase of more than 60